He was one of Brevard County’s most popular DJs, pumping out beat-filled music that packed clubs and put him behind the turntables with famed hip-hop recording groups like Migos and rappers like Boosie.

Now Melbourne detectives are working to unravel the circumstances that led to the shooting death of Peter Okoye, or "PJ" as he was known, on a south Melbourne street on Memorial Day. His stage name was DJ Showtime.

The shooting happened about 3:30 a.m. in the 3900 block of Mount Carmel Lane, which sits off Lipscomb Street in south Melbourne. Okoye had played a set at PinUps, an adult nightclub in Palm Bay, hours before he was shot.

Police said Okoye, a 32-year-old husband, and father, was found lying in the roadway with gunshot wounds. No arrests have been made.

A neighbor describes what he heard during the overnight hours May 28, 2018, before a man was found dead of a gunshot wound on Mt. Carmel Lane.
Tyler Vazquez, FLORIDA TODAY

“He was a great guy. He probably was the best DJ for hip-hop in Central Florida,” said Thomas Owens, a friend and business owner who worked with Okoye for years.

“He was very professional and would come out hours before to do all the sound checks. If (promoters) put $60,000 on the line for a show, he was the one you would have because you knew he would show up. This is just very sad,” Owens said.

Okoye played DJ sets with a number of popular recording artists, including Migos, Boosie and others, and he performed at Brevard County clubs, including County Line, which had a capacity of up to 2,500 people, Owens said.

David Key, 52, of Melbourne, charges: Non support of children or spouse; driving while license suspended with knowledge (third or subsequent offense). Brevard County Sheriff's Office - 0527, Brevard County Sheriff